African Renaissance and Self-sustainable Development: The challenge to African Intellectuals

I was invited here in particular because I've just completed a study of a case of institutional change at the University of Transkei (UNITRA). The organisers, I believe, wanted me to reflect on this experience and draw its implications for our discussion on the African Renaissance. The conclusions I arrive at are fairly pessimistic. The African Renaissance is a noble idea, and my wish is that it is realised. But if I were a betting man, I would not put my money in it. The chances of it being realised are minimal, in particular because there is a chasm between the vision and the behaviour, decisions and political strategies of those who hold that vision. I am going to focus on one example of this, namely in higher education. (Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems: 2002 1: 68-70